A GP’s receptionist who was struck down with a killer virus has told how her unborn baby’s life was saved after having blood transfusions in the womb.

A GP’s receptionist who was struck down with a killer virus has told how her unborn baby’s life was saved after having blood transfusions in the womb.

Clare Roberts got in touch with the Daily Post after reading the devastating plight of Simone Richardson from Rhyl, whose baby Coco died after the mum-to-be contracted parvovirus B19 during pregnancy.

The illness – known as slapped cheek syndrome – is common in childhood and causes a rash or reddening to the face. But it can be fatal if expectant mums get infected.

Of three cases among pregnant women from North Wales at the time, Clare’s baby, Seren, was the only one to survive.

She was born by emergency caesarian at 36 weeks weighing 4lb 12oz and having already had two blood transfusions through the womb.

Clare and partner Brett Thomas spent 12 days beside their daughter’s incubator in Ysbyty Glan Clwyd’s Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) until she was well enough to go home.

The 30-year-old from Prestatyn said Seren, now 11 weeks old, is “absolutely perfect” and is “doing well” despite coming so close to death.

Reflecting on her pregnancy nightmare, she said: “I was feeling sick all the time and didn’t eat each much. My iron levels dropped and everyone said I looked ill. I was scared I was going to lose the baby.

“My 20 week scan was all right but when I was 26 weeks I saw my midwife, Pat Martin.

“I had swelled up really badly to the size of someone about 34 weeks and couldn’t feel the baby moving.

“Although all my tests were fine Pat was not happy – I think she helped save Seren’s life.”

Further tests revealed Clare’s placenta was double the size it should have been and she was referred to Liverpool Women’s Hospital, where a consultant said he’d seen another two pregnant women with the condition that week.

“Even then I didn't realise how dangerous it was,” she added. “Seren was very poorly because as well as her belly being swollen with fluid, it was also in her lungs and around her heart and brain.

“She was so anaemic she needed a blood transfusion in the womb as soon as possible to save her life.

“She was in heart failure and it was not certain whether she would survive the night. But a blood transfusion saved her.”

The unborn child was given a second blood transfusion two weeks later when her haemoglobin dropped again.

Despite working in a doctor’s surgery amid a parvovirus outbreak, Clare said people had reassured her she would be ok. “I have since learned that parvovirus only affects the baby in a small number of cases because the majority of pregnant women are immune to it.”

The mum, who also has a six-year-old son called Dylan, added: “I feel we have been so lucky that Seren survived and I want to join Simone Richardson in alerting others to the dangers of how devastating parvovirus B19 can be in pregnant women.”

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